Morning journal and courier., 1887-12-31

THE SECURITY INSURANCE co. Their New BuIldIng-An Ornament to
 the Ctty-Spacious and convenient
 The Large Growth of the Oompany's
 Business.
 Our citizens have noted with pleasure the fine building which the Security Insurance company has erected on Center street. It is an additional ornament to the city and ranks among the most tasteful edifces, in design and appearance, in New Haven. Ground was broken for it's erection last June and the work has just been completed, and the com pany is in occupation of the premises, having taken possession last week. The company is to be congratulated upon having such hand some accommodations and for the genuine enterprise it has displayed. A glance at the edifce and it's interior is outlined as follows: The front is massive in appearance and is of the East Haven red sandstone. The sides and rear are of selected North Haven brick. The building front presents very striking appearance in it's entire originality and beauty of design. The blocks of stone in the build ing's front are not dressed to flat, smooth, outer surface, but left irregular, the effect being very pleasing Two large, handsome archways adorn the front-one, the larger,
 
 the other over the entrance. The entrance is by short ascent of granite steps into tiled vestibule, the entrance doors being but few feet inward from the buildings front. Gus ters of circular sandstone pillars adorn the side next the door, standing out in bas relief, and similar clusters of pillars, less in size somewhat, give 8 fine effect to the upper story between and at the sides of the central arched windows. There are also two tall rounded stone pillars jutting out from the building, onG on either front corner, giving the corners 8 rounded finish and handsome tower effect The upper works of the build ing resemble somewhat castle battlements, and the effect is fine.
 We come now to the interior. The whole of the first floor is devoted to the extensive office work of the company. On entering the eye is met by one imposing large room or hall 35x70, which is strikingly tasteful and elegant in appearance with it's lofty ceiling fifteen feet high, the many large and fine windows, each of one large light of plate glass, the fine arches over the windows with beautiful stained glass transoms, the soft tinted and handsome ceilings and side walls artisricallv frescoed in oil, the incrustse walton ornamentations of the lower portions of the panels between each of the windows, and the handsome man. tel and fireplace in the rear of the large apartment; and lastly the spacious and orna mental skylight.
 The woodwork of the whole interior above and below is beautifully finished in light cherry. The flooring is finely laid in choice southern pine, rendering carpeting unneces- sary. The frescoing is in light pleasing col- OTIS, admirably done and in keeping with the general artistic effect everywhere visible. The office furniture and desks for the clerks and stenographers are very tasteful also. In short, it is not invidious to say that no office in this city surpasses it and few approach it in fine finish, commodious size, elegance, and last but not least, abundance of light. On one side is an enclosure where is the com pany's large 6re-proof vault, adjoining which are toilet rooms for the employees. The whole upper story is devoted to the directors apartment, which is finished and furnished in the same attractive and pleasing style that characterizes the office floor. The entire premises are heated by steam from the city steam heating company's works. The base ment is occupied entirely for agency supplies and as a shipping room.
 The cost of the erection of the building was $25, 600, the cost of the land $15, ,000, total cost $40, 900.
 brief sketch of the "Securi ty is here with given. The company was organized in 1S41. It at first had rooms in the Boardman building. When the present Lyon building was erected-a building which was consider ed then one of the best on Chapel street, al- though now much surpassed by 8 few-the company located there it's headquarters and there remained for period of thirty years and until the present beautiful structure was completed. Up to the time of the death of the npany's first secretary, the late Mayor Galpin, the company did purely local busi- ness. Since that time it has been gradually en1arging it's business by the establishment of agencies until it now has about two hun dred agencies distributed all over the United States. The success and pros- perity of the company is naturally source of qualification to our citizens, as it adds it's quota to the influence and impor- tance of our municipality at home and abroad, and is therefore justly a claim upon our local pride and patriotism. It is like wise an additional source of prosperity. It has done a business in the past year amounting to over half a million dollars, and although the past year has been unusually severe upon the insurance companies. owing to the numbers of fires occasioning heavy losses, the Security" has been very much favored, the year having been the most profitable one in it's history. The company's assets now reach over half million dollars, and it has accumulated net surplus over all liabilities of over $10O,0O0, besides paying dividends which at the present time amount to ten per cent. per annum. The eompany's cash capital has just been increased from $260, 900 to $250,000. All of the new issue has been quickly taken at par, and the stock is now quoted at above par. The company has paid losses during it's exist ence of over three and quarter millions of dollars. The company during it's forty seven years of existence has had in it's direc- tory large number of representative men in our leading banking, mercantile and manu- featuring circles. Its present directors are such we'll known and influential citizens as Charles s. Leete, James D. Dewell, Daniel Trowbridge, A. c. Wilcox, James M. Mason, Cornelius Pierpont, William R. Tyler, J. A. Bishop and H. Mason.